Mirza Ghalib - Aah ko chaahiye-need translation

This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

Xorys

2004-06-07 00:51:58 UTC

Post by Uranus_Hertz
This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

I thought I had one somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. I'm going
to attempt a quick English transliteration here (not, certainly, a
poetic translation - but just a quick paraphrase of the basic
meaning... assuming I get it right). Text is taken from ITrans Urdu
poetry collection.

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak

A sigh requires an age to achieve effect
Who can live until your head of hair comes to its effect

daame har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-naha.ng
dekhe.n kyaa guzre hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak

There are traps in every wave, circled crocodiles with a hundred jaws
See what the speck passes through to come to be a pearl

aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa ra.ng karuu.N Kuun-e-jigar hone tak

To be a lover demands patience, and desire is restless
What colour shall I make the heart until it becomes the blood of the
liver
(ok, that doesn't really make any sense in English - but I'm sticking
to a basic transliteration here... and feel free to correct and
expand)

ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Kaak ho jaaye.nge ham tumako Kabar hone tak

I agree that you will not be neglectful, however
I (we) shall be dust before word comes from you

partav-e-Kuur se hai shabanam ko fanaa kii taaliim
mai.n bhii huu.N ek inaayat kii nazar hone tak

From the rays of the sun the dew learns nothingness
I too exist only until one favoured glance

yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak

Oh ignorant one - the leisure of life does not exceed one glance
The warmth of companionship does amount to the dancing of one spark

Gam-e-hastii kaa 'Asad' kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
shamm'a har ra.ng me.n jalatii hai sahar hone tak

For the pain of life, Asad, what remedy is there but death
The lamp burns in all colours, until the coming of the morn

Xorys

2004-06-07 16:48:23 UTC

Post by Uranus_Hertz
This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak
Oh ignorant one - the leisure of life does not exceed one glance
The warmth of companionship does amount to the dancing of one spark

I actually intended to type "does not amount", although on reflection:

The warmth of companionship amounts to the dancing of one spark

is probably more accurate.

V S Rawat

2004-06-07 18:57:01 UTC

Post by Uranus_Hertz
This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

excellent translation.

though, adding some clarification on some concepts for
better understanding. read on.

Post by Xorys
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
A sigh requires an age to achieve effect
Who can live until your head of hair comes to its effect

In the above, sigh is literal translation of an "aah", but I
think it is used figuratively in the sense of a good wish or
a curse. Then it makes more sense that it required an age to
come true.

second line, i think "sar" is not in the sense of head but
some other urdu word, that might imply getting access to
zulf or winning over the zulf. more like "no one might live
as long as it may take to win over your zulf".

Post by Xorys
daame har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-naha.ng
dekhe.n kyaa guzre hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
There are traps in every wave, circled crocodiles with a hundred jaws
See what the speck passes through to come to be a pearl

correct.
the reference in second line is that a speck of dirt turns
to a pearl.

Post by Xorys
aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa ra.ng karuu.N Kuun-e-jigar hone tak
To be a lover demands patience, and desire is restless
What colour shall I make the heart until it becomes the blood of the
liver
(ok, that doesn't really make any sense in English - but I'm sticking
to a basic transliteration here... and feel free to correct and
expand)

Post by Xorys
ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Kaak ho jaaye.nge ham tumako Kabar hone tak
I agree that you will not be neglectful, however
I (we) shall be dust before word comes from you

Kaaq is ashes (might imply funeral in case of hindus).
It should be "before news reaches you".

is taGaaful neglectful?
I thought it meant fight.

there is a sher by tabassum of phuul khile hai.n fame.

hamako to kisi se bhii taGaaful nahii.n mansuub
Ghaalib kaa bayaa.N aur thaa hai apanaa bayaa.N aur

here neglect does not fit, I guess.

Post by Xorys
partav-e-Kuur se hai shabanam ko fanaa kii taaliim
mai.n bhii huu.N ek inaayat kii nazar hone tak
From the rays of the sun the dew learns nothingness
I too exist only until one favoured glance

lovely.
her inaayat kii nazar will act like rays of the Sun. Once I
get it I will disappear from the world like a dewdrop.

Post by Xorys
yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak
Oh ignorant one - the leisure of life does not exceed one glance
The warmth of companionship does amount to the dancing of one spark

companionship should be gathering.

Post by Xorys
Gam-e-hastii kaa 'Asad' kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
shamm'a har ra.ng me.n jalatii hai sahar hone tak
For the pain of life, Asad, what remedy is there but death
The lamp burns in all colours, until the coming of the morn

pain of life should be sorrows of life.
remedy should be cure

-Rawat

Amit Malhotra

2004-06-08 04:59:31 UTC

Post by Uranus_Hertz
This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

excellent translation.
though, adding some clarification on some concepts for
better understanding. read on.

Post by Xorys
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
A sigh requires an age to achieve effect
Who can live until your head of hair comes to its effect

In the above, sigh is literal translation of an "aah", but I
think it is used figuratively in the sense of a good wish or
a curse. Then it makes more sense that it required an age to
come true.
second line, i think "sar" is not in the sense of head but
some other urdu word, that might imply getting access to
zulf or winning over the zulf. more like "no one might live
as long as it may take to win over your zulf".

I just wanted to add some "more" clarification to this. I don't think
it's really clear here. "zulf ke sar hone tak" here would mean to
"win tresses" as clearly pointed out by Rawat, but most importantly,
it would mean to get so close to the beloved that the poet could
unwind her tresses. Here is is simply saying that it would take a
lifetime for him to reach that stage where he would be so close to her
that he could unwind her tresses. It may also mean "union with the
beloved".

correct.
the reference in second line is that a speck of dirt turns
to a pearl.

speck of dirt turns to a pearl?

I'm not sure what you meant by that.

Rawat sahib didn't have any comments on this one, I may as well add
something. I don't think the second line says : "until the heart
becomes the blood of the liver", I think it would mean more like:
"what colour should i make my heart until my liver bleeds".

Basically, I think the poet is saying that Love demands patience while
desires are impatient, so what should i do with my heart or how should
i console my heart till my patience wears away ?? (reference to the
liver bleeding would be a reference to patience giving in).

Post by Xorys
ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Kaak ho jaaye.nge ham tumako Kabar hone tak
I agree that you will not be neglectful, however
I (we) shall be dust before word comes from you

Kaaq is ashes (might imply funeral in case of hindus).
It should be "before news reaches you".

it's Kaak (not Kaaq, in iTrans that is). Khaak honaa should
obviously mean to be reduced to dust.

Post by V S Rawat
is taGaaful neglectful?
I thought it meant fight.

taGhaaful would mean to neglect.. indifference.

Poet basically said that "I know you won't be indifferent to me, but I
will long be dust before you come to know of me".

Post by V S Rawat
there is a sher by tabassum of phuul khile hai.n fame.
hamako to kisi se bhii taGaaful nahii.n mansuub
Ghaalib kaa bayaa.N aur thaa hai apanaa bayaa.N aur
here neglect does not fit, I guess.

here obviously it means indifference. That I'm not indifferent to
anybody. No, it doesn't mean fight (not that I know of).

lovely.
her inaayat kii nazar will act like rays of the Sun. Once I
get it I will disappear from the world like a dewdrop.

Think of it also in a philosophical way :) The dew evaporates into
the thin air when the rays of sun strike it, when "she" looks at me..
or let's replace "she" with "god", when "god" shows his kindness to
me.. i will become one with him.. i'll become extinct (fanaa). hmm...
no? ;)

companionship should be gathering.

i read a very interesting explanation in a book about this sh'er.
something philosophical about time, universe being their for billion
of years and life, or companionship of just a few months, years, being
nothing but a wink of an eye in the great time-pool of the universe.
just like a spark that raises from a flame and disappears into
nothingness.

Then again, there was another interesting interpration of the second
line in ALUP about how in the old time, a bazm (mehfil, gathering)
would go on till the last spark of the candle (or something of the
sort) and they would pass the candle from one person to another to let
them recite their poetry. I'm sure if you look up ALUP archives, you
will find the thread where this was discussed.

pain of life should be sorrows of life.
remedy should be cure

Remedy ... cure.... what's the difference? :) that's what it means..
there is no remedy but death to relieve "Asad" from the sorrows of
life. Instead you sh ould have pointed him out to this: "Morning"
should have rather been "dawn" :)

Regards

Amit Malhotra

Post by V S Rawat
-Rawat

Amit Malhotra

2004-06-08 05:06:48 UTC

Post by Xorys
yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak

Then again, there was another interesting interpration*** of the second
line in ALUP about how in the old time, a bazm (mehfil, gathering)
would go on till the last spark of the candle (or something of the
sort) and they would pass the candle from one person to another to let
them recite their poetry. I'm sure if you look up ALUP archives, you
will find the thread where this was discussed.

typos --- interpretation*

sorry to follow up on my own post.. i'm sure there are other mistakes
that i missed :D oh well

Amit

Xorys

2004-06-11 06:14:07 UTC

correct.
the reference in second line is that a speck of dirt turns
to a pearl.

speck of dirt turns to a pearl?
I'm not sure what you meant by that.

Pearls are formed when a speck of dirt (foreign matter, sand or
whatever) lodges inside the shell of an oyster - the oyster (a kind of
shellfish) forms growing layers around the speck by means of a kind of
excretion until a pearl is formed. Presumably the speck would do its
passing through daame and naha.ng before arriving at the oyster...

I found the points made about zulf ke sar and Kuun-e-jigar
instructive, since I wasn't clear about the exact connotations
involved.

UVR

2004-06-11 13:45:46 UTC

correct.
the reference in second line is that a speck of dirt turns
to a pearl.

speck of dirt turns to a pearl?
I'm not sure what you meant by that.

Your explanation is scientifically accurate, but I doubt Ghalib
knew about or cared for it. He is most certainly not talking of
a speck of dirt here. He's referring to a drop (qatra) of water.

The traditional (read poetic or folk) concept of the creation of
pearls is that if a drop of water manages to reach the bottom of
the ocean and enter the mouth of an oyster, it eventually becomes
a pearl. Recall film names such as "boond jo ban gayi moti"
(Hindi), "swaati chinuku" (Telugu).

Before it can reach the ocean floor, however, a drop must undergo
an inordinate amount of 'suffering'. It has to first escape the
onslaught of raging waves (mauj) that inhabit the seas. This is
where one observes one example of the genius of Ghalib's metaphors.
To him, each wave (har mauj) is a net (daam) waiting to ensnare the
drop. And not just any net. It's a circle of a hundred mouths
of crocodiles (halqa-e-sad kaam-e-nahang), just waiting to tear
the drop up into shreds, and put paid to its ambitions of becoming
a pearl. Observe the contrast between the mouths of crocodiles
and the mouth of an oyster that the drop must enter.

Look what the drop has to endure before it can become a pearl?

-UVR.

Amit Malhotra

2004-06-12 06:13:00 UTC

Post by UVR

correct.
the reference in second line is that a speck of dirt turns
to a pearl.

speck of dirt turns to a pearl?
I'm not sure what you meant by that.

this is exactly why i asked what he meant by the speck of dirt because
obviously Ghalib didn't speak about a speck of dirt in his sh'er, but
rather a drop of water.

Post by UVR
Before it can reach the ocean floor, however, a drop must undergo
an inordinate amount of 'suffering'. It has to first escape the
onslaught of raging waves (mauj) that inhabit the seas. This is
where one observes one example of the genius of Ghalib's metaphors.
To him, each wave (har mauj) is a net (daam) waiting to ensnare the
drop. And not just any net. It's a circle of a hundred mouths
of crocodiles (halqa-e-sad kaam-e-nahang), just waiting to tear
the drop up into shreds, and put paid to its ambitions of becoming
a pearl. Observe the contrast between the mouths of crocodiles
and the mouth of an oyster that the drop must enter.
Look what the drop has to endure before it can become a pearl?

and of course, that's a great explanation of the sh'er.

Thanks

Amit Malhotra

Post by UVR
-UVR.

Ek Tanhaa

2004-06-08 09:39:05 UTC

Post by Uranus_Hertz
This ghazal is present on the net but I cannot seem to locate an english translation.
Wondering if anyone has one

I thought I had one somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. I'm going
to attempt a quick English transliteration here (not, certainly, a
poetic translation - but just a quick paraphrase of the basic
meaning... assuming I get it right). Text is taken from ITrans Urdu
poetry collection.
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
A sigh requires an age to achieve effect
Who can live until your head of hair comes to its effect
daame har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-naha.ng
dekhe.n kyaa guzre hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak
There are traps in every wave, circled crocodiles with a hundred jaws
See what the speck passes through to come to be a pearl
aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab
dil kaa kyaa ra.ng karuu.N Kuun-e-jigar hone tak
To be a lover demands patience, and desire is restless
What colour shall I make the heart until it becomes the blood of the
liver
(ok, that doesn't really make any sense in English - but I'm sticking
to a basic transliteration here... and feel free to correct and
expand)
ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin
Kaak ho jaaye.nge ham tumako Kabar hone tak
I agree that you will not be neglectful, however
I (we) shall be dust before word comes from you
partav-e-Kuur se hai shabanam ko fanaa kii taaliim
mai.n bhii huu.N ek inaayat kii nazar hone tak
From the rays of the sun the dew learns nothingness
I too exist only until one favoured glance
yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak
Oh ignorant one - the leisure of life does not exceed one glance
The warmth of companionship does amount to the dancing of one spark
Gam-e-hastii kaa 'Asad' kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
shamm'a har ra.ng me.n jalatii hai sahar hone tak
For the pain of life, Asad, what remedy is there but death
The lamp burns in all colours, until the coming of the morn

Dosto,

I think the translation of " teri zulf ke sar hone tuk"

could mean "zulf ke sarhane tuk" Sarhana means "Caress"

Tanhaa

V S Rawat

2004-06-08 16:22:06 UTC

Post by Ek Tanhaa
I think the translation of " teri zulf ke sar hone tuk"
could mean "zulf ke sarhane tuk" Sarhana means "Caress"
Tanhaa

no. Caress is sahalaanaa.

sarahaanaa/ sirahaanaa is that end of cot or bed where you
put your head while lying or sleeping.

-Rawat

Amit Malhotra

2004-06-08 20:27:11 UTC

Post by Ek Tanhaa
I think the translation of " teri zulf ke sar hone tuk"
could mean "zulf ke sarhane tuk" Sarhana means "Caress"
Tanhaa

no. Caress is sahalaanaa.
sarahaanaa/ sirahaanaa is that end of cot or bed where you
put your head while lying or sleeping.
-Rawat

I think the explanation i gave on "zulf ke sar hone tak" is very valid
:) do check it out!

Amit

Afzal A. Khan

2004-06-08 21:21:40 UTC

Post by Ek Tanhaa
I think the translation of " teri zulf ke sar hone tuk"
could mean "zulf ke sarhane tuk" Sarhana means "Caress"
Tanhaa

no. Caress is sahalaanaa.
sarahaanaa/ sirahaanaa is that end of cot or bed where you
put your head while lying or sleeping.
-Rawat

I think the explanation i gave on "zulf ke sar hone tak" is very valid
:) do check it out!
Amit

A few years back, this particular sher of Ghalib had been
discussed in ALUP and I had ventured to provide my take on
this. I am quoting below excerpts from that post of mine :

" In this sher, most people find difficulty with the last
4/5 words i.e. "zulf ke sar hone tak". I think this
difficulty can be resolved if we insert the word "muhim"
in between, while trying to understand the meaning of the
sher.

Mehboob kee zulf tak rasaai (ya wisaal-e-mehboob keh leejiye)
koi aasaan marhala naheeN. Mehbob ko manaana, use apnee
taraf maail karna --- is men muddateN guzar jaatee haiN.
Go hameN yaqeen hai ke ek din hamaaree aaheN asar laa ke
raheNgee, mehboob ka dil zaroor paseejega aur hamaare dil kee
tamanna pooree hogee. Lekin kya us waqt ke aane aane tak
hum zinda bhee raheNge ? Is kee koi ummeed naheeN. Is liye
hamaara yeh yaqeen (ke hamaaree aaheN ek din asar
dikhaayeNgee)
ek tarah se be~sood hai.

Is men ek lateef nukta yeh bhee hai ke ho sakta hai mehboob
ko apnee taraf maail karne men zyaada muddat darkaar na ho.
Ho sakta hai woh jald maan jaaye. Magar yeh 'arsa chaahe
kitna hi mukhtasar kyon na ho, hamaare liye bahut
ziyaada saabit hoga. Hum us waqt se pehle hi is jahaaN
se guzar
jaayeNge. Mehboob kee zulf tak rasaai (ya wisaal-e-mehboob)
ko ek hausla~shikan muhim se t'abeer kiya hai. Ek din yeh
muhim sar zaroor hogee lekin us waqt tak bahut der ho chukee
hogee.....

Since this discussion took place on ALUP, the above post
contains some rather difficult Urdu words. But I am sure
the sense is clear enough. Even so, if someone wants any
clarification, please feel free......

Afzal

Manohar Bodas

2004-06-10 04:27:58 UTC

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
*Asar can mean action,effect. While Asar Andaz can mean Guide.

Embrace is subtly hinted hear.

Perhaps you must have heard :

Neend Uski hai, Damagh Uska hai Raate Uski Hai

Teri zulfe jiski BAzu par Paresha Ho Gayee.

Or Firaq 's

Nikahate Zulfe Paresha.

Am I right?

MB

Afzal A. Khan

2004-06-10 15:45:16 UTC

Post by Xorys
aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak
kaun jiita hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak
*Asar can mean action,effect. While Asar Andaz can mean Guide.
Embrace is subtly hinted hear.
Neend Uski hai, Damagh Uska hai Raate Uski Hai
Teri zulfe jiski BAzu par Paresha Ho Gayee.
Or Firaq 's
Nikahate Zulfe Paresha.
Am I right?
MB

Asar = Effect Asar~aNdaaz = Something or someone
having effect

e.g. CP(M) kee policies UPA ke programme par asar~aNdaaz
ho saktee haiN.

As regards "NeeNd us kee hai...", you shouldn't say "perhaps"
but "definitely" ! It is a very famous ghazal by Ghalib.
The exact text is :

NeeNd us kee hai, dimaaGH us ka hai, raateN us kee haiN
Teree zulfeN jis ke baazoo par pareshaaN ho gayeeN

I recall a ghazal sung by Talat Mehmood in the same radeef :

"Jab kisee ke ruKH pe....."

Afzal

Rirfan6

2004-06-11 00:20:11 UTC

Post by Afzal A. Khan
Jab kisee ke ruKH pe....."
Afzal

AFAIR it is :
Jab kisee ke ruKH pe zulfaiN aa ke lehraney
lageiN

Regards

Irfan

Afzal A. Khan

2004-06-11 03:23:27 UTC

Post by Rirfan6

Post by Afzal A. Khan
Jab kisee ke ruKH pe....."
Afzal

Jab kisee ke ruKH pe zulfaiN aa ke lehraney
lageiN
Regards
Irfan

Yes, you are right.

Afzal

Manohar Bodas

2004-06-11 03:50:15 UTC